Mara walked down the narrow, winding path back toward her house, her heart still hammering in her chest. The confrontation with Orion had done little to ease her anger; if anything, it had stoked the fire burning inside her. How could he be so blind? How could he let Elara come between him and Seraphina? Seraphina, the one who had always been there for him, always cared.
It wasn't the first time Mara had felt this fury, this needs to protect her best friend from people who seemed determined to tear her down. Mara had always been the one to stand up for Seraphina, even when they were younger, back when Elara had first started her petty bullying. Elara had always been like a wolf in sheep's clothing- sweet on the surface but vicious underneath. And Orion? He had never stepped in back th
